Protecting people and primates: IFAW stands against the “pet” primate trade

Washington, D.C. (May 5, 2025)—The Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA), H.R. 3199/S. 1594, has been reintroduced in the U.S. House and Senate, marking a crucial step toward ending the private ownership and trade in chimpanzees, monkeys and other non-human primates as pets nationwide. If enacted, the CPSA will help protect both animals and the communities that may be put at risk when they are kept in unqualified hands.  

“Keeping primates as pets is not only inhumane–it’s dangerous,” said IFAW Campaigns Manager Carson Barylak. “These animals suffer immensely in captivity and pose serious risks to public safety. This legislation is a critical step toward ending the exploitation of captive monkeys and other non-human primates, and we urge Congress to act swiftly to protect wildlife and people alike.”  

Primates are highly social and intelligent animals. In the exotic pet trade, they may be bred in cruel conditions or stolen from the wild and trafficked in brutal conditions, disrupting entire ecosystems. They are often sold through online platforms or at auctions, and are condemned to unnatural, isolated environments for the rest of their lives. Some captive primates are even subjected to mutilation, such as tooth extraction, in an effort to render them “safe” as pets. The CPSA would end this terrible treatment and cycle of suffering.  

The dangers extend beyond animal welfare. Over the past few decades, pet primates have injured hundreds of people, including owners, children, and first responders. They can also transmit a range of serious diseases–including viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections–to humans through bites or scratches, making even minor injuries very risky.  

The demand for pet primates in the US also fuels international wildlife trafficking. In many cases, mother primates are killed by traffickers in the wild to capture their infants, who are in turn smuggled into the US. Indeed, the trade in captive primates not only causes immense suffering but also threatens already endangered wild populations.  

The proposed legislation has been endorsed by the American Society of Primatologists, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, National Animal Care & Control Association, North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, and dozens of accredited zoos, first responders, primate experts, qualified sanctuaries, and animal welfare and conservation organizations across the US.  

IFAW is calling on the public to support the CPSA and urge their members of Congress to cosponsor the bill. “Public support will be essential to get this important bill across the finish line,” said Danielle Kessler, IFAW’s US Country Director. “We must act now to protect animals, people, and ecosystems from further harm.”  

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Alyssa McCann 
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